Both girls gaped at him in surprise. What? A date? Eva blinked twice, to get a grip on her senses. When did she agree to go on a date with him?
“He’s just kidding. It’s only dinner. You too can come along,” said Eva while Alexander grunted with annoyance. Didn’t she know that he was serious? He didn’t joke about such matters. How could she invite his sister to their date night?
“No, I wasn’t. It’s a date. Lisa, I’ll take you out some other day.” Alyssa grinned at the two favourite people in her life. It had been her deepest wish to get them together for a long time. When finally it was happening, she had no wish to be a third wheel.
“I’m attending a birthday party tomorrow, anyway. I’ll take you up on that offer later.” Alexander relaxed a little after his sister accepted his plans. He glanced at Eva’s pink cheeks and smiled with satisfaction, eagerly waiting for his date the next day.
“Can we eat now? I’m dying of hunger,” said Alyssa and they all proceeded towards the dining table. Alyssa helped her lay the table and finally, they sat down to eat.
“This is perfect,” said Alexander, helping himself to the meatloaf while Alyssa moaned with delight, closing her eyes and savouring the food. Eva blushed at their reaction. Weren’t they overreacting to a simple meatloaf?
“Thanks. This is the simpler version. I’ll learn the smoked exotic version soon.” Eva sneaked a glance at Alexander’s appreciative stare.
“Then Alex will employ you as his head chef,” said Alyssa with a laugh.
“No, thanks. I’m happy being a nurse,” laughed Eva, although the idea pleased her immensely.
“And I’m happy to have my dinner here,” said Alexander, giving Eva a look that she couldn’t decipher. What exactly did he mean by that?
“Till some tall, dark and handsome guy whisks her away from right under your nose,” said Alyssa with a laugh but Alexander scowled at her statement, obviously not pleased at all.
“I’m sure I could do something about that,” he muttered, giving his sister a hard glare that totally shut her up. Although Eva was curious to know in detail what he had in his mind, she refrained from asking him.
They had just completed dinner when he received a call from his dad. Eva was soon on her guard and stayed in the background, not making any sound to give away her presence.
“Where are you Alexander?” barked his dad and Alexander looked a little uncomfortable.
“I’m at Lisa’s place. Why dad?” he asked, dreading his answer.
“I’m waiting at your doorstep for the last five minutes, that’s why!” said his dad. Alexander immediately panicked not wanting his dad to come over to Alyssa’s apartment and find Eva there.
“I’m coming over in a few seconds.” He got up to rush out but froze with horror when the doorbell rang. Eva cowered sensing that their dad was there. It was time to get insulted for no fault of hers. This has always been the ritual every time she came face to face with Daniel Van Every.
“Dad’s here,” said Alyssa, getting up to open the door. Alexander scowled at his dad’s stubbornness, wondering why he was here in the first place. He knew what this was all about! Beatrix Rotterdam! He knew that his dad might have had a discussion with his best friend and decided against the year-long gap that Desmond had approved of initially. He wouldn’t at all budge from his decision. He would get rid of Beatrix from his life at all costs.
He opened the door to see his dad standing angrily at the doorstep. “I was waiting for so long for you. I couldn’t wait any longer. So I thought of dropping by here.” He barged inside and his glance fell upon Alyssa. “Good to see you at home for a change, Lisa. When will you do something worthwhile with your life instead of clubbing and partying with a bunch of worthless girls?”
Alyssa scowled at him with fury. “I have stopped in case you aren’t aware.”
“Then what do you do the whole day? Come over to my office tomorrow to train under me,” growled her dad but Alyssa’s scowl deepened and she shook her head refusing to give in at all.
“I won’t work under you, dad. I’d rather get a job instead,” she replied angrily. Ever since her dad, Dave Van Every died because of her mom and her stepdad, she blamed them totally for his death. She hated them and hardly ever visited home. It was fine with her mom and she left her alone but her stepdad was too dictating to let her be.
“Then do it soon because I’ll soon stop transferring money to you.” Alyssa froze, knowing that she’d die of hunger if he did that.
“Dad, let’s get to what you came here for,” said Alexander to stop the discussion. It was an ongoing war that couldn’t be stopped that easily.
“I’d like to sit somewhere and talk this over,” said their dad, eyeing the sofa. Alexander panicked knowing Eva was probably hiding in the kitchen.
“Let’s go over to my place, dad,” he suggested but his dad went over to the dining table to sit, ignoring his suggestion.
“I can get the wonderful aroma of meatloaf from here! Did you cook dinner, Alex? It’s been ages since I’ve eaten your food. Let me taste what you’ve made,” he said to his son who looked a little uncomfortable.
“There’s not much left, dad,” said Alexander but Alyssa intervened with an evil grin on her face.
“Why not? You should taste it and give us your frank opinion, dad.” She rushed inside to get a plate for her dad.
“Alex, I had a talk with Desmond. I don’t think you should postpone your wedding for a year. You’re not getting any younger. With Desmond’s health deteriorating, shouldn’t you act more responsibly? I’m sure Beatrix will improve after you marry her,” said his dad. Alexander glanced towards the kitchen knowing Eva could hear everything that was being discussed. He didn’t want her to know about it this way. He wanted to be the one to tell her about his life.
“I didn’t postpone my wedding, dad. I broke off my engagement with her. I can’t tolerate betrayal at any cost. This isn’t the first time at all. How can you be so sure that she’ll stop sleeping around after marriage? I’ve given her a year to stop and prove herself. I’m handling the business for uncle Desmond but please don’t force me to marry Beatrix now,” said Alexander, refusing to give in. This time he wouldn’t listen to his dad’s wishes. All he cared for was his best friend!
“Desmond was in tears, Alexander. He begged me to make you see some sense. If anything happens to him, Beatrix would be lost.”
Alexander intervened immediately, refusing to be blackmailed. “Uncle Desmond is responsible for this. He should have been strict with Beatrix right from the start. At twenty-eight, isn’t it high time she stopped depending on others? Uncle Desmond is welcome to get her married to anyone he fancies. I can’t marry her if she doesn’t leave her dirty habits behind.”
“Do you realize that if Desmond gets her married to someone else, the entire business empire will go out of your hands? Think about it son. You’ve spent four years building it to where it is now. How can you throw it all away? Fight for what is rightfully yours. I’m sure you can control Beatrix and keep her satisfied. She won’t go elsewhere if she has your attention.”
The sound of a plate crashing to the floor in the kitchen brought Alexander to his senses. Eva! She had heard everything! “Lisa are you alright?” said Daniel Van Every, getting to check his daughter in the kitchen before Alexander could stop him.
He stopped in his tracks at the door, shocked to see a pale-faced Eva standing with Alyssa. There was a plate lying shattered to a million pieces between them. Alexander too rushed after him and his gaze went to Eva’s tear-stained face and a sense of dread gripped his heart. Will she block him out now?
“You? What do you think you’re doing in my apartment?” growled their dad angrily while Eva cowered with fright, turning paler at being caught.
“Dad, I brought her here. She’s sharing with me,” defended Alyssa, stepping forward to pacify her stepdad.
“Why? I don’t want her to stay with you at all in your apartment. Ask her to vacate now,” growled her dad.
“I’m sure she will find a place for herself soon. It’s late and mom will be waiting for you. I’ll see you to your car, dad,” said Alexander. Tears pooled in Eva’s eyes but she didn’t make a single sound, clamping her mouth shut and standing in a corner cowering with fright. She hadn’t thought of this at all when she had agreed to stay over with her best friend but not anymore. She would start looking for a place to stay of her own soon.
“I’m leaving but I’ll be back tomorrow. If I see her here, I’m going to sell this apartment off, Alyssa. You can come over and stay at my house. And one more thing! Your mom wants you to call your granny once,” said her dad, and with a last glare at Eva, he left with Alexander following him out.
Eva sagged to the floor, all the energy draining out of her body. “I’ll look for a place of my own tomorrow, Alyssa.”